Chapman’s Peak runs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek and has been crowned the paradise of Cape Town. It is safe to say that a visit to South Africa’s Mother City is incomplete without being mesmerized by Chapman’s Peak drive. Here are three things you should know about ‘Chappies’...
The distance and its reward
Chapman’s Peak drive is 9 km long, stretching from Noordhoek to Houtbay. The drive has 114 curves and is often regarded as the most rewarding toll road in the country. On one side you have a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and on the other the Western Mountains of the Cape Peninsula. On your way, there are plenty of stops you can make to take photos and take in the scenery. It is one of those drives you can never exhaust, every visit to Chappies is a reward. Share your experiences on Chapman's Peak Drive with us on your social media platform.
You can pack a picnic basket
On your way, there are plenty of stops you can make to take photos and take in the scenery. There are also designated picnic spots and viewpoints for you to experience nature at its better. During the latter part of winter and early spring, you might even be able to spot the Southern Right Whale.
Chappies has been crowned SA’s most innovative road engineering project
Chapman’s Peak drive was constructed under the order of Sir Nicolas Frederick, the first administrator of the Cape Province. At the time, two possible routes were under consideration in 1910, however the low nek between the Chapman’s and Noordhoek Peaks was second to the more spectacular route along the vertical sea cliffs. The route took seven years to complete and was officially opened in 1922. In 2004, Chapman’s Peak Drive received an excellence award for rock fall protection.
Are you planning on visiting Chapman’s Peak drive on your next holiday? Most tourists opt for cheap car rental to accommodate their travel plans.
Photo Credit: Landscape photography of the ocean and Chapman’s Peak | Jaques Burger
